131. But though Men when they enter into Society, give
up the Equality, Liberty, and Executive Power they had in
the State of Nature, into the hands of the Society, to be so
far disposed of by the Legislative, as the good of the Society
shall require; yet it being only with an intention in
every one the better to preserve himself his Liberty and
Property; (For no rational Creature can be supposed to
change his condition with an intention to be worse) the
power of the Society, or Legislative constituted by them, can
never be suppos'd to extend farther than the common good; but is
obliged to secure every ones Property by providing against
those three defects above-mentioned, that made the State
of Nature so unsafe and uneasie. And so whoever has the
Legislative or Supream Power of any Common-wealth, is
bound to govern by establish'd standing Laws, promulgated
and known to the People, and not by Extemporary
Decrees; by indifferent and upright Judges, who are to decide
Controversies by those Laws; And to imploy the force
of the Community at home, only in the Execution of such
Laws, or abroad to prevent or redress Foreign Injuries,
and secure the Community from Inroads and Invasion.
And all this to be directed to no other end, but the Peace,
Safety, and publick good of the People.